27-02-2025
The NOVA TechSphere, a Technology Interface Center (CIT) with an estimated investment of €4.9 million, is taking shape at the Caparica Campus. The project includes the construction of an iconic sphere that will stand as a symbol of technology and innovation, serving as a stage for scientific and business presentations, as well as a dynamic space to support the dissemination of NOVA FCT’s technology, entrepreneurship, co-creation, and experimentation.
Inspired by benchmark models such as the MIT Innovation HQ, the NOVA TechSphere project involves the renovation of an existing building and the construction of a 16-meter-diameter sphere. Its bold and transparent design symbolizes the openness of science to society, fostering collaboration among researchers, students, companies, and the general public. It also strengthens the strategic connection between academia, industry, and the productive sector.
NOVA TechSphere will serve as a hub for applied innovation projects, facilitating knowledge transfer and testing of new technological solutions with direct market and societal impact. The NOVA FCT Fablab, a recognized space for creation, prototyping, and experimentation, will be integrated into this new innovation area. The infrastructure will also include workspaces, functional and support areas dedicated to co-creation, ideation, and knowledge transfer, all incorporated into the existing building, which will undergo renovation.
With an estimated budget of €4.9 million, the project is 40% co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), amounting to €1,950,018, while the remaining 60% is covered by NOVA FCT’s self-financing.
Located within the Almada Innovation District, NOVA TechSphere aims to address the shortage of technological infrastructure in the region, creating new opportunities, attracting talent, and generating highly qualified jobs, contributing to local economic development.
"NOVA TechSphere will be an architectural landmark and a true laboratory for innovation and entrepreneurship, where students, researchers, and companies can collaborate on the technologies and ideas that will shape the future. This project reflects NOVA FCT’s mission: to educate, innovate, create, and transfer knowledge while fostering a more collaborative and technologically advanced environment," says José Júlio Alferes, Dean of NOVA FCT.
